Tuesday Thoughts - Tuesday Motivation

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#TuesdayThoughts #amreading #mustreads

FAILURE is NOT FINAL - Ask Daniel Ndabuki aka Mwalimu Kingagi

Kenyan's indeed have a unique way of communication. Recently, there has been a social media circulation of an  Image of Kenyan top comdian; Churchil aka Mwalimu Kingagi that even the man himself finds difficult to acknowledge. It is what is called complete metamorphosis. It is a photo which was taken during the 'low moments' Ndambuki.

Indeed Churchil has come a long way. It is a story that perhaps the man himself can best narrate. However, his life story is a manifestation that with Focus, Hardwork and Determination, The sky can be no limit.

A Must Watch: Doctors inject HIV into dying girl — you’ll be glad they did

This is one of the most sur­pris­ing and mov­ing videos Decision Times Kenya has seen in a very long time.

It’s from GE Focus For­ward, and it fol­lows a group of doc­tors who inject a six year-old cancer patient named Emma with the HIV virus. That’s right, they purposely infect her with HIV – literally, “Fire with fire.”

Their rea­son? To pit one fatal dis­ease against another by cre­at­ing “ser­ial killer cells” inside

A Must Read: Young Kenyan Who Made His First Million at Only 22Years - Learn Also of His Greatest Business Mistake

Harry Karanja : Image Courtesy

Motivational: Harry Karanja joined the millionaires club at only 22 when he and his partner Stephen Alala landed big deals from the State (KenyaLaw.org) for selling desktop and on line versions of the digitalized Kenyan Laws.
Using the proceeds, the duo set up the Genius Business Centre in 2005 to provide affordable office solutions to start up companies. The company has hosted over five hundred business start-ups and early stage enterprise.

Dorcas Karuana spoke to Harry Karanja and here what he had to say.
1. Tell me about yourself?
I am country boy who grew up in Nakuru. At one point I went to the USA and studied in Texas for 4 years when my mum was on a master’s scholarship. I however

A Story That Will Make You Cry: Don't Ever Ever Give Up In Life ( A Must Read Story of a Young Man's Struggle's and Success)

He has weathered many of life’s storms to be the young role model he is today. He is a professional accountant, motivational speaker, team builder and is also gifted with playing musical instruments. 

These are some of Sylvanus Osoro’s attributes. Orphaned at the age of 10, he knows the cold bitter life on the streets but instead of breaking him, the hard life strengthened him as he shares in this inspiring article. 

7 Non Negotiable Rules To Success and Winnings

1.Respect. Seek to understand others before you seek to be understood.

2.Belief. If you believe in yourself, you can fail up and overcome anything.

3.Trust. Trust is the foundation of healthy relationships and it must be earned.

4.Loyalty. Promises must be more than words, even if they require sacrifice.

5.Commitment. Don’t hold anything back and work like this is your last job.

6.Courage. Never back down from a challenge; discover your inner strength to win.

7.Gratitude. Actively look for opportunities to show kindness to others.

Julie Gichuru: My Life, My Story - Truely Inspirational Read

Julie Gichuru

I secured my first job just a few months out of high school. I had some time before I was due at university and I heard that the International Committee of the Red Cross was hiring clerks for a big project.

I offered my services as a volunteer and after stubbornly sitting at their reception on Dennis Pritt Road in Nairobi every morning for weeks, I finally got a position.

We started our work, opening files, attaching photos to cards and logging in details. As the days went by, the importance of what we were doing dawned on me. Our focus was Sudan where a large number of children, boys to be precise, were making a trek into Kenya. We had a picture of each child taken at a camp within Sudan. We had details of their names, ages, height, description and some family information. 

After a few days we would receive information that we had to log in. This information was registration data from a stop over point closer to Kenya. But some of the boys were not on the registration list. We would separate those files, close them and hand them to a different office.

Eventually I asked what happened to the boys who had not registered.

“They did not make it.” I was told.
 They did not make it…
 Each file I closed was a life lost…. They did not make it…

I asked why these boys were walking all by themselves, so young, too weak to carry supplies, at the mercy of the animals and the harsh environment, with only each other to hold onto. “It is the only way we can get them into Kenya and getting them into Kenya is their best chance of survival.”

I was horrified. Upset. Angry. I wished I had money to send trucks to pick them up… ‘Why can’t we do more?’ I lamented internally. But all I could do was wait expectantly for the next report.

I shed tears for the boys who did not make it.
I shed tears that they all had to endure such suffering.
I shed tears for the girls did not even stand a chance.
I shed tears for the families that were torn apart.
I shed tears that this was my Africa.
That was my first job. It was the early nineties and those were the Lost Boys of Sudan. While media reports indicate that the boys were between 7 to 17 years old, I recall that there were toddlers who made that journey.

 Many were young, many were just babies, protected and cared for by the older boys. I recall some of the older boys lost their lives fighting off wild animals that would trail behind them, hoping to feed on the weak and tired boys who fell back. What sheer strength and character!

It breaks my heart that they suffered…

I wonder where some of those boys are today. They are heroes, all of them. At such a tender age facing the choice of that arduous trek or imminent death.
May they all be blessed abundantly, may their cups spilleth over for their burden was too great, and they were far too young.

We owe them a better Africa, we owe ourselves a better Africa. I pray that we get there.

At a personal level I realized that we all face a great arduous trek in life, but for some of us it is more severe than it is for others. For some of us it comes when we are young, for others the worst hits us later.

How we conduct ourselves through the great trek will determine much of our life to come.

The question is can we make it through the trek with our dignity intact? Can we make it through the great trek with grace, courage and love? 
For if we are driven by hate and destruction, selfishness and cowardice, the trek will destroy us even as the journey begins.
Courtesy. Julie's Blog 

Back To Classroom: Mike Mbuvi Sonko Has Been Inspired By Deputy President; William Ruto To Get A Degree

Nairobi Senator Mike Sonko has joined Mt Kenya University to study business  administration. Sonko, who was admitted in the May intake, is to start his evening classes this week. 

The Senator said he was inspired to go back to school by Deputy President William Ruto who last year graduated from the University of Nairobi with a masters of science degree in plant ecology.

“Despite what the DP was going through in regard to the ICC cases, he found time to go back to school so he really inspired me, masomo haina mwisho (there is no end to learning),” he said.

Africa's 2013 Top 10 Millionaires To Watch - Forbes List

1.Naushad Merali – Kenyan 

Sameer Group. The is one of East Africa’s most venerable dealmakers. In 2000, along with French 

Media giant Vivendi, he launched Kencell, bought a 60% stake $230 million which he flipped hour later Celtel for $250 million.  

He spends his time steering the Sameer Group, a 15-company Kenyan conglomerate with activities in financial services, construction, agriculture, energy and power and information technology. Forbes estimates he is worth $210 million, using  2nd November 2011 stock prices.

2. Phuthuma Nhleko - South African

MTN International. He still serves as non-executive chairman of MTN International and remains one of the company’s largest individual shareholders, with 3.3 million shares worth $58 million. He now devotes his time to managing Worldwide African Investment Holdings (WAIH) which has interests in mining and ICT. Currently sits on the board of BP and mining giant Anglo American.

3.Manu Chandaria- Kenya 

Comcraft Group. He is the chairman of Comcraft group, a $2.5 billion industrial conglomerate his father founded over 80 years ago. The group produces steel, plastics, and aluminium products from its manufacturing facilities in 16 African countries and employs a workforce of over 40,000 people in 45 countries on five continents. He funded the creation of the Chandaria Business Innovation and Incubation Centre at Kenyatta University to provide seed funding and mentorship to student entrepreneurs at the institution.

4. Tokyo Sexwale – South African

South Africa’s Minister of Human Settlements is the founder and major shareholder of Mvelaphanda Group, a listed Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) Investment firm with significant interests in blue chips like media giant Avusa, Absa Group. In 2005 he hosted the reality show The Apprentice.

5. Harold Pupkewitz – Namibian

The 96 year-old Namibian mogul parlayed a small family trading business into Pupkewitz Holdings, one of Namibia’s largest privately held conglomerates. He owns Pupkewitz  Motors a subsidiary of the group is the largest dealer of Toyota, Nissan, Honda cars in the country. The group also has extensive interests in real estate and irrigation services. The group is also the largest distributor of Nokia, Samsung and Apple products in the country. 

6. Isabel Dos Santos – Angola 

Kento Holding. The eldest daughter of Angolas current president. She is a very successful businesswoman in her own right, and one of the continent’s wealthiest women (Forbes estimates her net worth is $170 million). Kento Holding holds a 10% stake in Portuguese media giant Zon Multimedia. She acquired the stake last year for a reported 164 million Euros. She is also a shareholder in Portuguese banks Banco Espírito Santo and Banco Português de Investimento, and in electric utility company Energias de Portugal.

 

7. Said Salim Bakhresa – Tanzanian

Bakhresa Group The extremely reclusive Tanzanian tycoon famously dropped out of school at the age of 14 to sell potato mix, then opened a small restaurant and then finally delved into grain milling. Today, his Bakhresa group employs over 2,000 people and is Tanzania’s largest conglomerate. The company’s interests include grain milling, confectionaries, frozen foods, beverages and packaging. The group’s Azam brand is the most popular manufacturer of chocolates and ice cream in the region. The $800 million (sales) group is also the largest producer of wheat flour in East Africa. Daily capacity: 2,100 metric tons.

8. Gilbert Chagoury – Nigeria 

Chagoury Group. He founded the Chagoury Group in 1971 which today is one of the country’s leading industrial conglomerates. The group’s activities include commercial real estate, flour milling, glass manufacturing and tourism.  The group owns the landmark Eko Hotel in Victoria Island, Lagos. He is building Eko Atlantic, a new mini-city in Lagos which is being constructed on land reclaimed from the Atlantic Ocean.

9.Antonio Oladeinde Fernandez – Nigerian

Petro-Inett. Served as the Central African Republic’s ambassador to the United Nations. Jose Eduardo dos Santos, Fernandez has extensive gold, diamond and oil mining interests in Angola and across Africa held through his company, Petro Inett. Divides his time between lavish homes in France, Scotland and the United States.

10. Kase Lawal – Nigerian

Camac International Holding - Politician’s son left his native Ibadan-Nigeria to study chemical engineering and business in Texas way back in the 70s. He enjoyed brief stints at oil giants Halliburton and Shell, before branching out in 1986 to found CAMAC, a small commodities trading outfit. In the early 1990s he ventured into energy. Today his $1.5 billion (sales) Camac International.  

Information Courtesy of Career Point Kenya

World’s Most Inspiring Business Short Notes

The biggest challenge we currently experience in the world, is a soul that wants to conquer the world, but a mind that is too sleepy to take initiative.

There is no barrier which can stop a man with focus, passion and purpose from achieving his dreams.

Your future does not depend on people’s interest. Your interest supersedes any other interest.

Stop the act of swimming along the river bank. Once in awhile, test your limit and go towards deep waters. That is where real fun is.

You’ve got to change your attitude and learn new and emerging patterns of adventuring.

Identify yourself with responsible and focused persons. Tell me your friends and I will never hesitate to show you your character.

Enlarge your territory by creating new contacts more often.

Remember the ancient three principles of money: Spend Some, Save Some, Invest Some.

Give. It creates the necessary space to receive.

Stay on the right track. Never say you can’t. 'If I keep on saying to myself that I cannot do a certain thing, it is possible that I may end by really becoming incapable of doing it. On the contrary, if I have the belief that I can do it, I shall surely acquire the capacity to do it’.. Mahatma Gandhi.

Are Your Afraid of Speaking Before a Crowd: Learn How To Conquer Your Fear.

The biggest challenge we currently experience in the world, is a soul that wants to conquer the world, but a mind that is too sleepy to take initiative.

An anonymous defines fear as false events appearing real. Honestly, speaking in front of people is really a demanding task. It is not surprising, therefore, to note that this noble act has brought down great men and women and even destroyed people’s lucrative careers all over the world.

Shocking figures reveal that a third of the world population suffer from fear of speaking in public. Possibly, you might not be an exemption. Surprisingly, even those who appear to be outwardly comfortable while speaking in public, are in fact, terribly frightened inwardly.

A world research recently revealed that the direct cause of fear of speaking in public is presence of nervousness. And the most common cause of nervousness is uncontrolled anxiety. You have to control your anxiety in order to conquer your fear of speaking in public.

Life is all about risking. Don’t be afraid to speak in public. Take the plunge, stand up in a crowd and say something. Do it once, twice, thrice, and do not stop thereafter.  You have to start immediately and commit to succeeding.  If you choose to chicken out however, then be rest assured that you will remain in this trap forever.

The only comfort zone which awaits all beings is death. It is the only in active state of beings where we all have no control of what happens thereon. Your future does not depend on people’s interest. Your interest supersedes any other interest.

Biblical Encouragements

“I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after your body has been killed, has authority to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him. Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. (Luke 12: 4-7).

  

But now, this is what the LORD says — He who created you, Jacob, He who formed you, Israel: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. 3For I am the LORD your God, (Isaiah 43:1-3).

Young Kenyan Technoprenuer Earning More Than Ksh 100,000 pmThrough Nokia Store

Stephen Maingi, is a young developer with a great entrepreneurial spirit and many good ideas when it comes to developing applications.

Through the Nokia Store, he has managed to convert his ideas into cash; netting around 100,000 KES per month from downloads.

Stephen’s entrepreneurship journey began in 2009 when he started application development, all self-taught by using resources from the internet e.g. YouTube.

Shortly thereafter, he developed a suite of 14 applications called Kyuste Mobile Suite. These included apps like: My.Manager for adding, viewing and editing contacts; Scriptures covering a collection of bibles verses; Finance for personal finance management; Diary for management of daily and future events; I.Record for storing important information, SMS. Chat and many others.

Sure that he was onto something good, he began the process of looking for investors to raise the necessary capital like any other entrepreneur would do.

Despite presenting at a number of Innovation Forums and knocking on several doors, Stephen made no progress on his dream of commercializing his suite of apps.

He then went the route of direct sales by personally visiting schools and marketing his applications to teachers. However, with no personal transport and some health issues, this process was slow and limited, and eventually he had to get a regular job.

During this time, Stephen did manage to get 12 apps registered on GetJar where users would download the applications and get the activation code after paying for the app via PayPal. However, the commercial success was very limited with many users either not having or using a PayPal system at that time, and the sum total of his efforts amounted to around 2,000 KES per month.However, in August 2011, Stephen’s dreams were re-ignited when he heard about the Nokia Store and the ability to publish apps for free. By mid-October, he had published the first 12applications, rebranded under his new company Dolphins Data Systems. Within the first 2 weeks, Stephen had already received revenue of almost 19,000 KES from his downloads.

With this incentive in mind, he pushed forward, more determined than ever, and has since published around 200 applications to Nokia Store. These now generate an average income of around 100,000 KES per month for the young developer.

“My journey with Nokia has been an amazing one,” says Stephen. “Based on my success, I have already started work on a Qt and Windows Mobile version of my apps, and I hope to capture the smartphone user base next. I recently attended the Open Innovation Africa Summit in Nairobi and this has inspired me to keep on developing mobile apps – there is so much opportunity in this space. The ‘3 idiots’ movie reveals it better: Make your passion your profession”.

Do you have what it takes to monetize your business ideas like what Stephen did? .... Courtesy of Fenesi

A lady had an interview to attend at 10am in Nairobi. That day; she woke up early and booked a vehicle at 5am. The vehicle didn't delay, she liked the speed too. With her estimation, she would get to Nairobi by 9am. Just past Gilgil, the traffic cops stopped the vehicle and surprisingly, drive had no Driving Licence. The vehicle was summoned to the police station which was 15km off the main highway.

The lady got really sad, she couldn't switch vehicles since she had no extra money and was thus forced to wait. She tried to call the interviewers at 1st to reschedule her interview time but the call never went through. By the time they were leaving the station, it was already 8.50am. She hoped all would be well but at Naivasha, the vehicle developed a fault which delayed the journey for 1hr. By the time she got to Nairobi, it was 12.30. She rushed to the venue of the interview, but had to wait till 2pm since it was lunch time. At 2.15pm, she went to the secretary who told her she would have to wait till 3.30pm since the management were in a meeting.

At 3.30pm, she's called in and the director told her, sorry for keeping you  waiting since morning, we're held up in another meeting with our company suppliers... However we have sat since 2pm to deliberate on your job specification, your office and the salary.
The lady was baffled and said, "Sir I haven't been interviewed yet’’.

The MD answered her and said "we decided not to conduct the interview at least to save time and also save the interviewees money on transport, so we looked at the papers for the most appropriate person we want and we opted for you. You won't be disappointed. You’ll be shown your office, your secretary and the driver assigned to drive your company's allotted vehicle. You’ll be on probation for 2yrs.

Note: You might be held up by issues in your life and hope might be diminishing and you think the chance is gone .But you know what? God's waiting for you to release His favour, so don't go back along the way, dont quit, don't be upset by what you face along the way.

In fact, God has already deliberated on your specifications...One more thing, u dont have to go through any interview, since u have all the qualifications God wants..